How Steve Ott’s Move the AHL Turned Springfield Around & Made Him an NHL Head Coach Candidate
“The best thing about this league is you get to have fun with it as well, you can try different things you might have wanted to try in the NHL” - Steve Ott
Many people in the hockey world would look at the move from the assistant spot in the NHL to a head coaching spot in the American Hockey League as a step down. It’s not the typical path for coaches eyeing the NHL job, and usually, a coach who takes that path is doing so because they are betting on themself. When the St.
Louis Blues told Steve Ott about the opportunity, he pounced at it, becoming the Springfield Thunderbirds head coach halfway through the season. “I’ve been interviewing for head coaching jobs for the past few years, and the only thing missing is a head coaching position,” Ott mentioned in a conversation with The Hockey News . This move to the AHL was about removing any doubt that he can coach in the NHL.
The job Ott has done with the Thunderbirds is impressive. While they aren’t the best team, and might still miss the playoffs at the end of the season, he’s put them in a position to make the playoffs and has them playing the right way at the right time. How Ott Changed Springfield The Thunderbirds play with purpose and structure.
In the first half of the season, they created offense by causing chaos and rushing the puck up the ice towards the net. They played a basic north-south style with an aggressive mindset, which had its pros and cons. Related: Bridgeport Islanders Will Be Patient With Prospect Cole Eiserman Instead, Ott has them moving the puck with a plan in place.